Design and Operation of Net-Zero Smart Resilient Buildings and Infrastructure
Summary
Buildings and infrastructure are major contributors to carbon emissions, and making them resilient, efficient and carbon-neutral is a complex challenge. This project addresses the need to better integrate renewable energy systems, storage solutions and smart grid interactions—while also optimizing for design and operation in both new builds and retrofits.
The project will develop and demonstrate building energy systems that combine solar, geothermal, batteries and thermal storage. It will also develop strategies for integration of electric vehicles as energy storage and optimal bidirectional energy flows. Case studies will include buildings, municipal clusters and airports, with a focus on real-world performance in extreme weather.
Led by a multidisciplinary team of 10 top researchers and about 20 partners across the building value chain, this project will produce customizable, net-zero design strategies and prefabricated building energy modules. It will also contribute to building codes and policies to help accelerate the shift to resilient, energy-positive buildings and infrastructure.
Key details
| Principal investigator | Andreas Athienitis, Concordia University |
| Co-principal investigators | Hua Ge, Concordia University Mohamed Ouf, Concordia University Alan Fung, Toronto Metropolitan University Prag Pillay, Concordia University Khaled Galal, Concordia University Caroline Hachem-Vermette, Concordia University Ahmed Soliman, Concordia University Luiz Lopes, Concordia University Lukas Swan, Dalhousie University |
| Research collaborators | Daria C Boffito, Polytechnique Montreal Panaguita Karava, Purdue University |
| Areas of Research | Modelling and Design Technologies, Control, Systems, and Access Technologies, Construction‐related Technologies, Building and Building Envelope Technologies, Battery and Energy Storage Technologies, Solar energy systems, Public Policy and Governance of Energy or Energy‐related Technologies, Knowledge Mobilization of Decarbonization and Electrification Processes |
| Non-academic partners | UNICEL, MITREX, ACTIV'GLASS, NUNAFAB, PRINTERRA, DILLON, Lemay Architects, SMARDT, Hydro Québec, Quest Canada, S2E Technologies, Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, NRC, CanmetENERGY, Aeroports of Montreal (ADM), City of Varennes, VadiMAP, Schneider Electric, Sagkeeng Arena, MRA, Solar Tomorrow |
Publications:
M. Abtahi, L. Rueda, B. Delcroix, and A. Athienitis, “Semantic Digital Twinning for Cost-Optimal HVAC Operation: Real-Time Application to a House with Smart Thermostats and PV/Battery under a Time-of-Use Tariff,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 343, p. 115938, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115938.
A. Petrucci, C. Vallianos, A. Buonomano, B. Delcroix, and A. Athienitis, “Coordinated load management of building clusters and electric vehicles charging: An economic model predictive control investigation in demand response,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 339, p. 119965, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2025.119965.
S. Sleiman and M. Ouf, “A review on energy practices and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of airports,” Building and Environment, vol. 278, p. 112965, June 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.112965.
Reports:
A. Athienitis, “Sodium Ion Battery Performance,” Aug. 2025.
A. Athienitis, “IEA Heat Pump Workshop Report,” June 2025.
Liangzhu Leon Wang: Provost’s Circle of Distinction, Concordia University; August 26, 2025
